Page 73 of Fierce Storm
Speaking of Keeley, what the hell am I going to do?
SALVATORE: Can you please look after yourself, Keels?
KEELEY: Always. Someone’s got to do it. Have a good night, Sal
SALVATORE: You too.
I lean back in my chair, crossing my ankle over my knee as I swirl my glass. It’s one thirty a.m. I should be going to bed. And I will. I’m going to finish this drink and go to bed. It’s the smart thing to do.
I’m a goddamn billionaire running a construction company while being a hands-on owner of a football team. I’m a smart man.
I’m going to bed.
Chapter Twenty-One
KEELEY
Nico announces last call at the bar, and I pout as if my expression will elicit a change of the rules. “You don’t have to leave.” He laughs softly. “We just can’t serve alcohol anymore. We officially close in thirty minutes, if you want to wait.”
“What would I be waiting for?”
“Me.”
Of course.I bite back a smile, but before I can respond, he gets called away, and my mind once again drifts to Sal.
I wonder what he’d think about my innocent flirting. I’m not actually going to sleep with Nico, and I’m ninety percent sure he knows that. Though I will admit I’m enjoying the attention from someone who’s not afraid to give it to me.
Unlike the man in my mind.
As Nico chats with a gorgeous blonde at the other end of the bar, I study his features, trying hard to picture him in my bed, between my legs. I imagine his palms wrapped around my thighs as he spreads me, the veins in his forearms bulging below his rolled-up business shirt sleeve, his dark eyes boring into mine as his deep voice penetrates my thoughts.
“I’ve wanted to do this for so long, Keels. I hope you’re ready for me.”His head lowers to the apex of my thighs, and I moan as I grab his salt and pepper hair, his—God-fucking-dammit.
I shake myself out of my head and Nico smiles, catching me looking in his direction. God, how long was I staring his way in a daze?
It’s another couple of minutes before he appears in front of me, and when he does, I have my apology ready to go. As much as I’d love him to fuck the idea of Sal right out of my mind, I’m not sure that’s possible. Especially in my slightly inebriated state. My mind is too messed up to think clearly. On a normal day, I’m smart enough not to insert Sal into my fantasies. It does no one any favors.
“Your place or mine?” Nico asks and I laugh.
“I’m going back to mine. Actually, I’m going back to a hotel because a water pipe burst somewhere in my apartment building days ago and we still have no water. It’s really… not the point. I’m going alone.”
“You sure?” Nico doesn’t bother hiding his disappointment, and I feel bad about my constant flirting. If he knew my mind was elsewhere, though, I doubt he’d argue.
I don’t apologize because I have nothing to be sorry about, and instead pay my tab, giving him a decent-sized tip. More than I’d usually give.
After one last smile, I grab my phone and contemplate how to get home. I should Uber, but I once made a promise to my mom that I wouldn’t Uber alone if I’d been drinking, and I kind of want to keep my word.
Pulling up my contacts, my finger hesitates over Easton’s number, my nose crinkled uncomfortably. He’s going to kill me. But once he hears my reasoning, he’ll reluctantly agree that calling him was the right thing to do.
Doesn’t make it any easier.
I should have gone home with the girls.
My phone rings in my hand as I’m staring at it, and Sal’s name flashes across the screen.What in the world?
Glancing up as I answer, I frown as my eyes find a man with a lot of Sal’s distinct features looking back at me from across the room.God, I’m drunk.Maybe I should have pickedthatguy to go home with, then it wouldn’t have been such a stretch.
The man matches my frown as I watch him, his frame getting bigger as he stalks toward me.
